SB 149 establishes a temporary teaching certificate for military veterans seeking to enter education. It directly affects veterans who qualify under this program but clarifies that time served under this temporary certificate won't count toward tenure or service status. The bill also prohibits individuals with this temporary certificate from later obtaining an emergency teaching certificate. These provisions create a specific pathway for veterans while defining the scope and limitations of their temporary certification.
SB 141 allocates $31.48 million from Alabama's Education Trust Fund (ETF) and other sources for public education support, maintenance, and development during fiscal year 2027. It specifically funds programs including $31.48 million for charter school startup grants, $8.52 million for the State Arts Council's Fine Arts Program, and $10.06 million for child abuse prevention services. The bill directs funds to public schools, charter schools, arts initiatives, and state education agencies, with most appropriations coming from the ETF and supplemental funds from federal/local sources. This appropriation does not create new policies but allocates existing state funds for designated educational purposes.
SB 111 creates the "Prepare Alabama Investment Program" to fund trade schools and vocational programs through state tax credits. It allows individuals and businesses to claim tax credits against Alabama income, excise, premium, or utility taxes when donating to eligible trade schools, community foundations, or workforce programs. These donations must be used exclusively for constructing, maintaining, or upgrading facilities that support career technical education. The program is overseen by a board within the Alabama Department of Workforce, which certifies eligible entities and publishes approved recipients annually.
HB 116 expands Alabama's Volunteer Rescue Squad Tuition Reimbursement Program to include the Alabama Department of Public Health's regional emergency medical services (EMS) agencies. Currently, only Alabama Community College System schools, the Alabama Fire College, and the University of South Alabama could offer the required EMS education for tuition reimbursement. This bill adds designated EMS regional agencies under the Department of Public Health as eligible institutions to provide education and receive reimbursement. Students enrolled in these new programs would still need to contract to work for two years with volunteer rescue squads, fire departments, or ambulance services after obtaining their EMS license. The change primarily affects EMS students and volunteer emergency services organizations by broadening educational pathways for tuition assistance.
HB 233 expands Alabama's National Guard Educational Assistance Program to cover workforce development programs (such as certified training or non-degree courses) alongside traditional college degrees. It also adds eligibility for on-campus living expenses and meal plans. The bill removes the previous requirement for members to maintain a 3.0 GPA to qualify for basic tuition assistance, replacing it with revised eligibility rules. It repeals outdated qualification language but maintains the existing $10 million annual funding cap for the program. This directly affects Alabama National Guard members seeking education or training beyond standard academic programs.
HB 236 allocates $275.1 million from the Education Trust Fund to Alabama's public universities (including the University of Alabama System and Alabama A&M) and $624.9 million to specialized schools (like the Alabama School of Cyber Technology), the Department of Education, and local education entities for fiscal year 2026. The total $900 million appropriation supports educational programs across the state, with specific amounts designated for each institution and district. Funds will be distributed per existing state education budgeting procedures without new policy changes. This is a funding measure, not a policy reform.
This is a resolution (not a bill) introduced by the Alabama House of Representatives, urging the U.S. Supreme Court and Congress to protect women's sports. It argues that maintaining sex-based athletic teams is necessary due to biological differences between males and females, citing concerns about competitive fairness, safety, and privacy. The resolution specifically references Alabama’s 2021-2023 laws banning transgender girls from participating in girls’ sports in public schools and colleges, based on biological sex at birth. It calls for reaffirming Title IX’s protections and enacting federal legislation to ensure women’s sports remain reserved for females. The resolution has been referred to the House Committee on Rules and is pending further action.
HB 187, known as Alyssa's Law, requires all Alabama public K-12 schools to provide designated staff (including teachers, administrators, and support personnel who interact with students daily) with mobile emergency response systems by October 1, 2030. These systems must instantly connect to emergency services and pinpoint the user's location indoors (room/floor level) and on school grounds. The bill mandates school systems to train staff on the systems, requires the State Superintendent to approve vendors, and allows using existing school safety funds (like the School Security and Fire Safety Fund) for purchases. The law does not require staff to use personal devices, though schools may offer that option with written consent.
HB 78 sets age-based screen time limits for children in early childhood education settings, directly affecting licensed child-care facilities, prekindergarten programs, and public kindergarten classrooms in Alabama. It prohibits screen time for children under two, limits it to 30 minutes daily (90 minutes weekly) for ages two to four, and requires all screen use to be "high-quality" and adult-supervised. The bill mandates annual staff training on screen time guidelines and requires the Department of Early Childhood Education to develop and publicly share free, research-based guidelines for parents. Compliance is tied to facility licensure and enforced by the Department of Human Resources, Department of Early Childhood Education, and local school boards. The law aims to align with pediatric recommendations by reducing excessive screen exposure during critical developmental years.
HB 75 requires Alabama public high schools to excuse students from class during instructional time for organized National Signing Day events related to athletic scholarships, college commitments, apprenticeships, or military enlistment. The bill directly affects high school students participating in these specific opportunities, ensuring they can attend without academic penalties. Schools must provide reasonable accommodations like meeting spaces with internet access for these activities. The law would take effect on October 1, 2026, if passed.
